Sharif again writes to UN for intervention in Kashmir

In yet another attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has written to the UN chief for the second time in a month to intervene by sending a fact finding mission to probe alleged human rights violations in the Valley.

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said that Sharif sent the letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon apprising him of the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.

Sharif sent the letter in response to UN Secretary General’s call for making efforts to avoid further violence in Kashmir, he said.

“The Prime Minister mentioned that while ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ cannot be compared in terms of the grim and tragic situation of human rights in Kashmir, it remains open to any UN mission for a visit as it has always facilitated the UNMOGIP, foreign diplomats and tourists,” the FO said.

The letter called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Balochistan and PoK as unwarranted and in complete contravention of the UN charter. It said the remarks were aimed at diverting the world attention from the ongoing atrocities in the Kashmir valley.

Sharif welcomed the UN Secretary General’s offer of his good offices and said that Kashmir is the main dispute between India and Pakistan. The spokesperson also said that Pakistan would continue its efforts to raise the Kashmir dispute at all international levels.

“The Kashmir issue will figure prominently at the upcoming annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) meetings on the sidelines of the UN session,” Zakaria said.

He said Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of the lingering Kashmir dispute through the dialogue process but rejected any preconditions for the talks.

Commenting on the just inked US-India defence pact, the spokesperson said that Pakistan will like to see that such arrangements do not contribute in polarising the region by disturbing the strategic balance and escalating the arms buildup in the region.

Talking about Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement on Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts, the spokesperson said Pakistan draws no distinction in the terrorist groups.

Earlier in August, Sharif had sent letters to UN secretary general and UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, urging efforts to end “persistent and egregious violation of basic human rights” of the Kashmiri people and also to implement UN Security Council resolutions.